This week at Coventry High School students worked on finishing lab sheets from their past lab on food webs and food chains. The previous activity that they performed was a virtual lab designed by explore learning. Coventry Schools have a membership to explore learning and use lessons from the website in their science classrooms. For this class activity, Mr. Lukowicz began with an opening discussion that required students to recall information from the previous lesson. This opener is used to prepare students for the upcoming activity by stimulating thoughts and evaluating their previous knowledge. After this opener students were given instruction to complete a post lab assignment. Students typically work in pairs but complete individual assignments. These assignments are designed by explore learning and correlate with their activities. While completing the post lab, Mr. Lukowicz and I walked around and helped students who were struggling and kept students on task. The relationship that Mr. Lukowicz has with his class is inviting, yet maintains his level of professionalism. Though he may seem often too relaxed during situations, he is able to convey his concern for his students to do well and his high expectations of them. Students understand that Mr. L is an authority figure within the class, so when things begin to get out of hand they are often quick in response to his instructions. Though Mr. L maintains direct control of his classroom, the students are given respect as well as a sense of autonomy in decisions that are made. In certain classes Mr. L has to tighten up the slack that he gives to some students in order for the class to remain efficient. When these students begin to get out of hand he just reminds them of the behaviors that he expects of them. As I look forward into my teaching career I speculate as to what teaching style I will employ. Reflecting upon my practicum experiences and my experiences as a student, there have been many instances where a teacher tried to take too much or too little control of a classroom and students got out of control. This leads me to say that I will probably be more authoritative. Some science practices that I want to stress in my classroom are critical thinking and problem solving. I am not so worried about teaching students practices that limit them to science, rather I want to employ a variety of practices that can translate into other fields.
Journal #3
This week at Coventry High School students worked on finishing lab sheets from their past lab on food webs and food chains. The previous activity that they performed was a virtual lab designed by explore learning. Coventry Schools have a membership to explore learning and use lessons from the website in their science classrooms.
For this class activity, Mr. Lukowicz began with an opening discussion that required students to recall information from the previous lesson. This opener is used to prepare students for the upcoming activity by stimulating thoughts and evaluating their previous knowledge. After this opener students were given instruction to complete a post lab assignment. Students typically work in pairs but complete individual assignments. These assignments are designed by explore learning and correlate with their activities. While completing the post lab, Mr. Lukowicz and I walked around and helped students who were struggling and kept students on task.
The relationship that Mr. Lukowicz has with his class is inviting, yet maintains his level of professionalism. Though he may seem often too relaxed during situations, he is able to convey his concern for his students to do well and his high expectations of them. Students understand that Mr. L is an authority figure within the class, so when things begin to get out of hand they are often quick in response to his instructions. Though Mr. L maintains direct control of his classroom, the students are given respect as well as a sense of autonomy in decisions that are made. In certain classes Mr. L has to tighten up the slack that he gives to some students in order for the class to remain efficient. When these students begin to get out of hand he just reminds them of the behaviors that he expects of them.
As I look forward into my teaching career I speculate as to what teaching style I will employ. Reflecting upon my practicum experiences and my experiences as a student, there have been many instances where a teacher tried to take too much or too little control of a classroom and students got out of control. This leads me to say that I will probably be more authoritative. Some science practices that I want to stress in my classroom are critical thinking and problem solving. I am not so worried about teaching students practices that limit them to science, rather I want to employ a variety of practices that can translate into other fields.